Fort Frederick State Park Hosts Astronomy Program September 15

Big Pool, Md. (September 5, 2012) ─  A naturalist will lead guests through an observation of the vast night sky at Fort Frederick State Park’s astronomy program, starting at 8:15 p.m. on September 15. Participants can expect to see nebulae, double stars, globular star clusters, galaxies, and other deep sky objects.

“When we look at distant galaxies we are in some cases looking back in time at events that happened before Homo sapiens walked the Earth,” says naturalist Charles Sullivan. “We are pondering the unfathomable, and this fills us with a sense of awe and wonder.”

Guests will learn how to find the North Star and Polaris, the basics of Newtonian telescopes, and how to identify a few of the constellations of autumn. The park’s dark skies provide an ideal site for astronomical observation, as light pollution is minimal. Observers are encouraged to take advantage of the park’s 10-inch Dobsonian telescope, along with several other telescopes provided by Tri-State Astronomers.

Participants will meet at the nature center, which is adjacent to Captain Wort’s store across the road from the fort. Overnight camping is available on site. The park charges a small entrance fee. In the event of clouds or rain, the program will be rescheduled.

Fort Frederick State Park is located off Interstate 70 at State Route 56 in Big Pool. More information is available by calling the park at 301-842-2155 during office hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov